Purton Memorial Service

"I lost my best friend, my future," said Kang as she sobbed in front of Purton's friends and family Friday.

On Sunday, 33-year-old Purton was driving home from work when he was killed by a suspected drunk driver. Prosecutors say he was rear ended by a car driven by Michael Landri who allegedly had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

"To understand why this is happening is angering and futile," Kang said about the crash.

The anger is shared by Purton's parents who flew from Australia to bring his body back home.

"We miss you forever beautiful boy," cried Purton's mother Chris.

Purton moved to San Diego six years ago to work at Scripps Research Institute. He worked in the immunology lab experimenting with vaccines. He was trying to help find a cure for cancer.